Thailand Family Adventure

Thailand Family Adventure Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Welcome to Thailand where our family adventure begins in Bangkok. Enjoy a luxury tent camp tonight on the River Kwai.

  Our trip begins today in Bangkok, Thailand. Meet your guides at the Bangkok international airport, Suvarnabhumi, in late morning for a group transfer to Kanchanaburi. We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant situated near the famous bridge on the River Kwai. We will have the option to visit the JEATH WWII museum or take a short walk across the famous bridge. Depending on our time of arrival in Kanchanaburi we may have the opportunity to visit a unique country market along the railway tracks. We overnight in Kanchanaburi this evening in our luxury tent camp on the River Kwai. All the tents are air conditioned and have their own bathrooms. Before dinner we enjoy a dip in the refreshing natural spring pools! Lunch and dinner included.

  Vehicle transfer time: 3+ hours. Note: Approximate total vehicle transfer times are listed for each day but these drives are broken up with many stops, activities, lunches, bathroom breaks and time to stretch our legs.

• Day 2 Kayak on the River Kwai then bike through the rainforest. Visit with the locals and explore Erawan Falls and Phra That Cave.

  Wake to the sounds of nature surrounding our riverside camp. After breakfast, we embark on a kayaking excursion on the River Kwai for two hours of paddling this scenic waterway with an experienced instructor. After a snack and a bit of rest, it's time to switch gears for a fun and easy 10 km bike ride through the spectacular Kanchanaburi rainforest. Stops are made en route to visit a local school or to enjoy a friendly chat with the local villagers as they go about their daily tasks. After lunch at a local restaurant, we depart for Erawan Waterfall, a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall in Erawan National Park. Bring your swim suit and enjoy a dip in the fall's natural pools! Next, we transfer by vehicle through the national park to Phra That Cave. This large mountain cave is filled with massive stalactites and stalagmites and we have the chance to explore a bit before returning to our accommodations in Kanchanaburi for a delicious Thai dinner at an open-air restaurant with great views of the nearby river and rainforest. All meals included.

  Kayaking: 2 hours; Biking: 1-1.5 hours on some paved and dirt roads. Vehicle transfer time: 2 hours.

• Day 3 Explore Buddhist temples and hop aboard a long tail boat to Ayutthaya town where we bike through ancient temple ruins at dusk.

  Departing from Kanchanaburi this morning, the next stop on our family adventure is historic Ayutthaya, an ancient capital city founded in 1350. En route we will stop in Bang Pa to explore the majestic royal mansions of Bang Pa In Summer Palace on the banks of the Chaopraya River. We continue on to visit Wat Nivet Thammmpravat, one of the area's most distinctive Buddhist temples, with its remarkable Gothic-styled architecture and stained glass windows. Then hop aboard a long-tailed boat to Ayutthaya town where we'll visit the temple, Wat Chai Wattanaram. We can climb the steep steps up the main prang for an amazing view. We'll check into our hotel after this visit, then prepare for another unforgettable cycling adventure! Ayutthaya is known for its spectacular temple ruins, and in the mysterious light of dusk there's no better way to explore the temples than from our bikes. As the evening sun sets, our ride leads past the highlights and hidden gems of what was once among the most splendid cities of the East. Over dinner, we'll take a private cruise around Ayutthaya on a converted rice barge to enjoy the city sights before returning to our air-conditioned hotel in Ayutthaya complete with rooftop swimming pool. All meals included.

  Biking: About 12 km; roads are flat and easy. The guided tour is 1.5 to 2 hours including stops. Vehicle transfer time: 3 hours.

• Day 4 Today we travel to Sukhothai to visit an authentic market and explore the town, whose name means “dawn of happiness”.

  After a delicious breakfast we drive further north with a stop in Uthai Thani in the heart of rural Thailand before finally arriving at the provincial capital of Sukhothai, meaning "dawn of happiness". Founded in the 13th century, Sukhothai was the kingdom's first capital and is a shining example of the golden age of Thai history. We'll visit the market to experience the local lifestyle and tour Wat Chantharam (Wat Tha Sung) with its spectacular Crystal and Golden Halls. Then we're off to Sukhothai Historical Park, formerly a walled city surrounded by a moat, which contains almost 200 chedi ruins in remarkable condition. Chedis are mound-like structures containing Buddhist relics (typically the remains of a Buddha or saint) and are important places of Buddhists worship. Here we'll explore by bike around the main sites including Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum and Wat Sri Sawai. Dinner tonight is at the Dream Café, located in downtown New Sukhothai. The restaurant is a charming old Thai house serving Thai and Western dishes and the food is delicious. We'll spend tonight in Legendha Sukhothai Resort where kids can swim in the pool while parents enjoy a refreshing beverage at the poolside open-air bar or take in a foot massage. All meals included.

  Biking: 2 hours, easy terrain. Vehicle transfer time: 5 hours with many stops along the way (Note: Today is our longest day in the vehicle but our driver will make many rest breaks and stop off at local attractions along the way).

• Day 5 Visit a local farm and orchard today, then explore Sri Satchanalia park before arriving in Chiang Mai for a very special ceremony.

  Today we continue north to Sri Satchanalai Historical Park on the bank of the Yom River. The ancient town here, formerly called Muang Chaliang, was re-named Sri Satchanalai during the reign of Phra Ruang and 134 ruined monuments have been discovered within the park. Before arriving in Sri Satchanalai, we stop at a local farm to explore the fruit orchards, and various tropical fruits will be available for tasting when in season. Then we'll visit the main temples of the historical park as well as the Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Center at Ban Ko Noi. In the afternoon, we complete the drive to the northern capital, Chiang Mai. After checking into our hotel, relax a bit before dinner or have a swim in the outdoor pool, before meeting up with our guide for dinner at a local restaurant. As the evening winds down, we each light a khom loy and launch it on the water in the cool night, following the local belief that any misfortune will float away with it. We spend the next three evenings in Chiang Mai at our luxury resort set on the banks of the Mae Ping River. All meals included.

  Walking/Sightseeing: 2 to 3 hours, easy. Vehicle transfer time: 4 hours.

• Day 6 Give alms to the monks at Ton Payom market, then visit the International Buddhist Studies Center before tonight’s Thai cooking class.

  Today we depart our hotel very early (6 a.m.) so that we can participate in the daily alms. At Ton Payom Market we can buy dishes and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony to the monks. After this uniquely enlightening experience, we'll have breakfast ourselves, then explore Wat Umong. Built in the 14th century, nature and time have covered this heavily forested temple in moss and small plants, endowing it with a sense of primordial wonder. After a walk through the mysterious tunnels we reach the Viharn of the temple to experience our own private blessing ceremony. For those wanting to learn more about Buddhism, the International Buddhist Studies Center adjacent to the temple offers a unique opportunity to learn and exchange ideas informally with the monks about their faith and other general topics. Lunch today is on our own, and our guide offers suggestions. After lunch we drive up Suthep Mountain to visit the famous temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Chiang Mai has over three hundred temples and Doi Suthep is one of the most impressive, glittering in gold and sitting on a hillside high above the city. Climb 306 steps up the dragon headed staircase to the temple and take in the fantastic views of Chiang Mai Valley. The remainder of the afternoon is free for families to enjoy Chiang Mai. Relax at the hotel's swimming pool, enjoy a Thai herbal massage at the hotel's spa or get some souvenir shopping done at the local market. In the late afternoon we'll try our hand at preparing the local cuisine in a Thai cooking class. We'll shop the local market for our dishes' ingredients then learn the secrets of Thailand's internationally revered cuisine. At the end of class we'll share our freshly prepared family feast before retiring for the night in Chiang Mai. Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is on your own.

  Vehicle transfer time: 1 hour.

• Day 7 Hike in Doi Inthanon National Park to a Karen hill tribe village then visit Watchirathan waterfall on our way back to Chiang Mai.

  Today's adventure begins with a short transfer by van to San Patong market. Here we'll experience the colors, sounds and smells of a typical Thai fresh food market while our guide picks up some ingredients for lunch later on. Then we continue to Doi Inthanon National Park which is well known for its beautiful wild flowers, great birdwatching opportunities and majestic waterfalls. As we enter the park, we immediately notice the change: houses and roads make way for trees and streams, while mountains rise from the vast fields of the Mae Ping valley. Today we'll set out on a short hike that begins in a Karen hill tribe village. Most of the villagers work at the coffee plantation project and we'll be able to sample some of their coffee while chatting with our Karen hosts. The first part of our hike is an easy walk from the village through the forest and over the fields. After about an hour we reach our first waterfall, cross the stream, then climb up to the next waterfall where we enjoy a picnic lunch and have some time to swim, sunbath and relax. After the break, we continue hiking along the stream, passing yet another beautiful waterfall before reaching the end of today's hike where our driver waits. On the way back to Chiang Mai, we make a stop at Watchirathan waterfall, one of the most spectacular falls in Northern Thailand. Upon returning to our Chiang Mai hotel, we have time to freshen up and then choose any restaurant we like for dinner. Besides the many Thai cuisine restaurants, Chiang Mai boasts a variety of excellent restaurants serving dishes from around the world. Even pizza and tacos are available! Our guide will recommend some favorite spots as well. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner is on your own.

  Trekking: 2 hours, easy. Vehicle transfer time: 2 hours.

• Day 8 Zip line through the rainforest, visit Mae Kampong Village and learn how the villagers farm coffee and tea. Then prepare dinner together with your host family.

  Today we get to sleep in and enjoy a more leisurely start to the day. We depart in the afternoon for Mae Kampong village in Mae On district, driving through the picturesque countryside of Chiang Mai. Just before reaching the village we will stop off at the "Flight of the Gibbon" station and gear up for our zip-lining adventure. This exhilarating experience will send us soaring on suspended cables through ancient rainforest canopy. The unique perspective from the high zip-line cables and sky bridges provides an up close view of arboreal jungle life – we may even spot a 'flying' gibbon or two! After the zip-line excursion we have a short drive to Mae Kampong village, nestled 1,300 meters above sea level and therefore maintaining a cool climate all year long. The villagers of Mae Kampong village greet us as we arrive there for a walk through the community forest past tea and coffee fields to a refreshing waterfall. Tea and coffee cultivation are the main occupations for Mae Kampong villagers and much of the tea grown is used to produce 'miang', a snack which local people chew after dinner or if they want a quick pick-me-up. Back in the village, we can see how they process fermented tea leaves and other products that are hand-made in the village. In the early evening, we'll be paired up with our host families for a very special homestay tonight. Help your hosts prepare tonight's dinner then relax with a traditional Thai massage. All meals included.

  Note on homestay: Each family on our trip will stay with a Mae Kampong host family in a separate part of the host family's home. Accommodations are simple and clean and the hosts are very welcoming. There are mattresses, sheets and pillows which are cleaned after every stay. There is electricity in the village (hydroelectric) and each house has a shower although water is cold. Mae Kampong is in the mountains and during the winter months (November through February) it gets quite cold, so warm clothes are a must.

  Zip-Lining: 3 hours. Hiking: 2 hours, easy terrain. Vehicle transfer time: 1 hour.

• Day 9 Visit the hilltribe villages of the Palaung, Akha, and Lisu people, plant a tree for Thailand’s future, and overnight in Hmong Hilltribe Lodge.

  An early, hot breakfast is served by our gracious hosts while the morning mist is swept away from the valley by the mountain wind. After breakfast, we say thanks and goodbye to our friendly host families and set off for Chiang Dao where we will visit the tribal hilltribe villages of the Palaung, Akha, and Lisu people. A local guide will escort us through the villages where each tribe retains a different culture and way of life including their ways of dressing and their architectural styles. We have the unique opportunity to visit some of their homes and farm land. Leaving the Chiang Dao valley behind we will spend a few hours planting native trees as part of the Trees for Life reforestation project in the Mae Taeng District. We will be briefed about the reforestation of Thailand and the local community's involvement in this important work. Local villagers will then lead us on a one hour walk through the forest to the tree planting site. This is a wonderful opportunity to chat and interact with these villagers who are experts at identifying local tree varieties and explaining their different uses. They'll work alongside us providing help and guidance as we plant the native trees that will be vital to the success of this important project. When the job is done, we celebrate over refreshments and then transfer to the Mae Rim district, where we'll stay overnight at the very comfortable Hmong Hilltribe Lodge, which is surrounded by lush jungle and rice terraces. All meals included.

  Walking: 1 to 2 hours through villages, easy terrain. Hiking/Tree Planting: 1 hour hike through forested terrain and some physical exertion with approx. two hour tree planting session. Vehicle transfer time: 2.5 hours.

• Day 10 Hike to a Hmong village to learn about their culture before returning to Chiang Mai, where our adventure ends. Or, join our sea kayaking extension in Southern Thailand.

  After breakfast at the lodge, today offers another short and memorable hike. Passing through pristine jungle, we walk to Mae Khi village, a Hmong settlement. Here we can witness how the Hmong hilltribe people still live a relatively traditional lifestyle.The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century and there are about 60,000 Hmong people settled in villages throughout northern Thailand today. Hmong women traditionally make clothing for their families from cotton or hemp. Their clothing is richly decorated with magnificent embroidery and silver jewelry. Many are now seeking to market their exquisite needlework in order to supplement their income. Additionally, the Hmong are animists, whose shamans use dramatic methods to contact the spirits. These diligent and independent people are fond of wearing their silver ornaments during ceremonies and are devoted to the sky spirit they believe has created their ancient way of life. After returning to the lodge, lunch will be served. Then we transfer to Chiang Mai's international airport for flights homeward, or to Phuket for our optional sea kayaking extension! Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner is on your own.

  If you are not joining the group for our Sea Kayaking Phuket Extension, your journey ends in Chiang Mai with the transfer to the airport where our guides help you set off on the journey home.

  Trekking: 2 hours. easy, some uneven terrain. Vehicle transfer time: 1.5 hours.

  Note: Internal flights are not included.

  Explore even more. See our Phuket Sea Kayaking trip extension.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures. Single accommodations are not available for home stay.

All accommodations as noted in itinerary; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; private bi-lingual guides; private ground transport within Thailand; 27-speed touring bikes and bike helmets; canoes and life vests; entrance fees to various parks and temples; zip-lining; Bangkok and Chiang Mai airport transfers when arriving and departing with group.

International airfare to/from Thailand; internal flights in Thailand; two lunches and one dinner; cost of passport; soft drinks and alcoholic beverages; items of a personal nature and optional gratuities to your guides.

This trip is rated Easy Active [2] with several components ranging to Moderate [3]. It contains a variety of activities. All activity options are suitable for novices. Participants should arrive in good physical condition. A regular exercise regimen consisting of walking, hiking and biking is highly recommended beginning at least 2-3 months prior to departure. The better shape you are in, the more you'll be able to enjoy all that the adventure has to offer! No experience is needed for the short kayaking portion of this trip – this paddle is appropriate for novices.

Thailand has a tropical climate. Temperatures in the 70s–90s can be expected during the day with cooler temperatures (50s-60s) at night depending on the season. Temperatures in the northern mountains will typically be 10-20º cooler, especially during the evenings (in the winter months, temperatures can dip in to the low 40s at night). During the summer months, expect evening rain (possibly daytime as well) and hot/humid conditions. July and August will definitely average daytime temperatures in the 80s and highs in the low 90s with high humidity.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Thailand has a tropical climate. Temperatures in the 80s can be expected during the day with cooler temperatures (60s) at night. Temperatures in the northern mountains will typically be 10-20 degrees cooler, especially during the evenings, than the south. Both north and south regions can be quite humid. For July and August trips expect slightly warmer temperatures (80s to 90s), tropical rains (possibly daytime as well as evening) and high humidity.

Flight Weight Restriction: Flights within Thailand on Thai Airways have a weight restriction of 20 kg (approx. 44 pounds).

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, hiking boots, a pair of shorts/shirt/sandals, camera and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• Bring clothing that is light in weight and color, which ventilates and protects you from the sun. It is always good to have a lightweight, long-sleeved fleece or synthetic top, especially for the cooler evenings in the northern hill country in the winter months.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner socks should be synthetic, not cotton.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes / colors to differentiate contents.
• A pack rain cover or large garbage bags provide good protection for your daypack, should it rain (a possibility especially during the summer months).
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens users should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
• Space for luggage is limited. Pack lightly, fitting all clothing and sleeping bag into one duffel bag. During the day, plan on carrying a daypack with an extra pair of shorts, sunscreen, towel or wrap, water bottle / hydration system and camera.